FEATURE COVER STORY
SAVE COST: MAXIMISE PALLET DENSITY F
Narrow Aisle has introduced the Flexi StorMAX which allows users to handle two pallets from the same side of each very narrow aisle, effectively doubling capacity of every run of racking
lexi Warehouse Systems – the intralogistics projects and systems
division of the articulated forklift truck specialist Narrow Aisle – has introduced the Flexi StorMAX, a new concept in space saving storage solutions. Based around established double deep pallet racking, Flexi truck and modern warehouse management systems technology, the Flexi StorMAX storage solution allows 50% more pallet locations to be achieved when designing a storage system in a warehouse, with the same dimensions as a system served by conventional reach trucks. Furthermore, Flexi StorMAX pilot schemes undertaken in the UK and Middle East have shown that the high- density system requires significantly fewer truck assets to achieve higher pallet throughput speeds than storage solutions that feature, for example, automated pallet ‘shuttle’ technology. Of course, with the Flexi StorMAX system the user does not have to invest in the kind of costly special pallet racks and automated components associated with ‘shuttle’ pallet storage systems.
DOUBLING CAPACITY In simple terms Flexi StorMAX allows users to handle two pallets from the same side of each very narrow aisle which effectively doubles the capacity of each run of racking. The pallets are put- away and retrieved by Flexi StorMAX controlled by a warehouse management system that ensures first-in, last-out (FILO) in up to 90% of movements; the system has hydraulic forks that reach twice as deep within the racking as those on a conventional truck. The Flexi’s design which, being
‘counterbalanced’ provides an exceptionally stable lifting base, features a patented stability control system (SCS) which controls costly pallet weight derations when lifting at height.
OVERCOMING HISTORICAL ISSUES One of the major drawbacks associated with two deep pallet storage systems in the past has been the poor residual capacity of converted reach type trucks at high lift heights. Now, the Flexi’s ability to handle standard supply chain loads in all locations even back top beam level means that the problem of product weight control by location (sometimes
known as ‘zoning’) which has been associated with double-deep storage systems in the past has been overcome. The Flexi StorMAX uses WMS software that can track and locate every pallet of product entering the warehouse; the software has been adapted to ensure FILO and that ‘honeycombing’ is virtually eliminated. ‘Honeycombing’ is referred to as the effect on the storage cube when the back pallet locations toward the top of the storage system are under-utilised because of problems encountered by the materials handling equipment – usually reach trucks – and when products are put away into the rack storage system in the wrong order ie not obeying FILO data or customer order data before allocating rack locations. The Flexi StorMAX’s warehouse
management system ensures that pallets are put away in the order from which they will be picked. Therefore, the WMS places incoming pallets that will be kept in storage for a shorter time in front of products that will normally be in stock longer to allow fast access from the aisle for the faster moving stock units (skus).
HI-DEFINITION OPERATOR CCTV SYSTEM To further enhance safety and efficiency when picking at height the Flexi trucks that operate within the Flexi StorMAX
S6 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 | MATERIALS HANDLING & LOGISTICS
Based around established double-deep pallet racking, Flexi VNA truck and WMS technology, StorMAX allows 50% more pallet locations to be achieved when designing a storage system with the same dimensions as one served by conventional reach trucks
system are fitted with a hi-definition operator CCTV system. Early adopters of Flexi StorMAX technology have experienced impressive results. One user – a well-known food manufacturer - is storing 40,000 pallets in a Flexi StorMAX system that is served by just five Flexi trucks. The company chose to invest in Flexi StorMAX technology in an effort to reduce its costs per pallet stored and lower its handling expenses after an automated shuttle-based system in operation at another of its sites had proved less than efficient. The shuttle’s relatively low pallet throughput which was due to extended internal pallet transfer speeds and, therefore, long waiting times meant that up to 50% more reach trucks were required to operate at the installation than originally forecast. “The Flexi StorMAX system allows the
same number of pallet locations to be achieved in the identical storage space as an ‘automated’ shuttle based system only more efficiently and with less labour costs,” concludes John Maguire, sales and marketing director of Flexi Narrow Aisle.
Narrow Aisle T: 9121 557 6242
www.flexi.co.uk
/ MATERIALSHANDLINGLOGISTICS
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